The White House of Klang
A recent visit to the Sultan Abdul Aziz Royal Gallery gives an opportunity to learn more about the Selangor royal ancestry and the state’s rich history
THIS is the White House of Klang. It’s a name given by the people of Klang to this early 19th century building due to the unique monochrome colour scheme of its doors, grilles, windows and even verandahs.
This grand colonial era building designed by Arthur Benison Hubback, located at Jalan Stesen, is the Sultan Abdul Aziz Royal Gallery — home to more than 2,000 prized artefacts from the personal collection of Selangor’s eighth ruler as well as gifts given to him by his adoring rakyat and foreign heads of state.
The Selangor royal ancestry and lineage, prominently displayed just past the main entrance, gives me the opportunity to learn more about the sultans who ruled Malaysia’s richest state in the past. over the political and economic activities that happened in the territories within his rule. In the past, the ruler was both responsible for his rakyat as well as opening new settlements for them.
Prior to British intervention in the late 1870s, the sultan’s powers included allowing him to elect anyone he deemed fit as court officials to assist him in administering the state. Despite this delegation of duties, the monarch still remained the point of reference and commanded obedience among his people.
Apart from all these, Sultan Salehuddin is also remembered for standing up against the Dutch, blatantly disregarding their orders not to trade with their rival, the British.
The monarch defiantly travelled upriver to Klang and commanded the local chieftain not to sell the Dutch any tin. Sultan Salehuddin passed away in 1778 and was buried at the Royal Mausoleum in Kuala Selangor.
I continue reading about Sultan Salehuddin’s subsequent successors in the following displays. Progressively, it becomes clear that Selangor owes much of its peace and prosperity to the wisdom and exemplary leadership of its wise rulers.
Soon I reach the section that tells of the then 34-year-old Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah’s ascension to the Selangor throne in 1960 and his coronation at Klang’s Istana Alam Shah a year later. No. 3, Jalan Stesen, Kawasan 1, 41000 Klang, Selangor
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11th Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
Part of the explanatory notes here relate to the royal gallery’s early days when it is known simply as the Memorial Museum.
Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah funded the museum’s construction with his own funds. The building, located within the palace walls in Jalan Kota Raja in Klang, was completed in 1988. Access, at that time, was restricted to special invited guests only.
Eight years later, in 1996, the museum underwent major renovations as the monarch wanted it opened to members of the public.
Two years later, as the building was still being extensively overhauled, the sultan agreed to suggestions to change the museum’s name. The name Sultan Abdul Aziz Royal Gallery was chosen to reflect on the monarch’s birth name, Tengku Abdul AzizShah.
The Royal Gallery, which opened its doors to the public in 2000, was closed only a year later when Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah passed away. His son and current Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah Alhaj, ascended the throne on Nov 22, 2001 and ordered the resumption of his late father’s initiatives.
Provisions were made to move the gallery to the current building, which was at that time, called Sultan Sulaiman Building.
Built in 1909, the building quickly gained fame among the people of Klang as “The White House” due to the unique monochrome colour scheme of its doors, grilles, windows and even verandahs.
First used as a British administrative centre, this palatial two storey building was turned into a Japanese army base during the Second World War. After liberation in September 1945, it became home to the Klang District Office.
The Selangor Contingent of the Royal Malaysian Police occupied this place from 1973 to 1985 before moving to its new building in nearby Jalan Kota. This building’s last tenant prior to its conversion into the royal gallery was the Klang Disrict Office which remained here from 1987 until its doors closed in 2002.
Conservation work began in 2005 with the Public Works Department taking the lead role. An additional administrative annexe as well as a storage area was added in the process.
This increased the usable area to 1,579 square metres. Sultan Abdul Aziz Royal Gallery was officially opened on Oct 17, 2007 and received its first public visitor a fortnight later.
I spend a good part of an hour slowly browsing through the vast collection of paintings, ceramics, weapons and rare time pieces.